
View back along Rocky Gap Road.

Ascending along Rocky Gap Road.

The social trail turn-off to gain the ridge seen above, right of center.

View back toward Rocky Gap Road as we ascend the excellent social trail.

Close-up back down as we gain elevation.

At the ridge, looking back toward the Spring Mountains.

At the ridge, view south. Bridge Mountain seen left, the route to reach it is on the right, generally following the Keystone Thrust (where sandstone meets limestone).

View back along the cairned social trail. Ice Box Canyon seen on the right.

Passing over Ice Cube Canyon and ascending the colorful rock on the right, generally making our way to the spot in the center of this photo (the west ridge of Bridge Mountain).

Descending along the west ridge of Bridge Mountain, which is now in view ahead.

Cairns mark the way around the maze of sandstone, but there are many options as you approach the base of the peak.

View back along the lump sandstone landscape that comprises the west ridge of Bridge Mountain. We came here via the Keystone Thrust, visible center where the sandstone meets the limestone/trees.

A little sneak gully on the right of the ridge, Class 2/3. A Class 3 option exists if you keep to the crest of the ridge.

A nice Class 2/3 ramp system leading down.

A Class 2/3 crack on the right (south) side of the ridge.

View back up at the crack system.

Making our way to the saddle of Bridge Mountain's west side.

View back at the Class 2/3 descent to the saddle.

At the base of Bridge Mountain. The route leads up on the left in this photo.

View back at the west ridge we just descended from, now heading up Bridge Mountain.

Reaching the first set of Class 3 moves, a nice crack.

Close-up as we start up the crack.

View down at the start of the Class 3 section.

Higher up along the crack. It might be easier for some to keep to the rock rib on the right in this photo rather than staying within the crack.

Another shot down the crack, higher up. You can see the ridge we just came from on the top left in this photo.

The crack continues, but this cairn marks a ledge that points the way.

Just after starting along the ledge, this second Class 3 crack appears. You can see Austin above.

Just past the crack, the arch for which Bridge Mountain is named come into view.

View back through the arch.

We headed through the arch and ascended this Class 3 ramp, probably the crux of the hike. There may be other options for avoiding this if you don't go through the arch.

Above the arch, a cool tank that was holding some water.

Just above the arch, a view of the Bridge Mountain summit. We headed toward the rib in the center of this photo. On the left is the "hidden forest", a cool feature where coniferous trees are somehow growing in a large tank void of water.

Approaching the rib used to access Bridge Mountain.

Along the rib, very cool.

View back toward the rib.

Hidden forest seen below as we ascend on its opposite side.

A nice Class 2 slab ramp feature.

View back into the hidden forest and the slab feature.

A final Class 3 move past the ramp.

Past the Class 3 move, the summit block comes into view.

Bridge Mountain summit, view east toward Las Vegas and Calico Hills.

Bridge Mountain summit, view west toward the way we came.

Bridge Mountain summit, view south toward Mount Wilson and Rainbow Mountain.

Bridge Mountain summit, view north toward the La Madre Mountains and the lesser peaks of Red Rock.

A shot from 2015 of Bridge Mountain that I just wanted to include.
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